Vineyard field

When I said that "migration was over", I meant warbler/land bird migration. Although a few stragglers -- mainly warblers and flycatchers have been reported here and there, most of the long distance migrants have gone through to their breeding grounds in upper NY, New England or Canada. Shore birds and pelagics (oceanic birds) are still coming through. Of course, you have to get down to the shore to see most of 'em!

This morning's bird walk was in the Vineyard Field back of the South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) and was a joint effort by the Museum with ELIAS (Eastern LI Audubon Society). Most (if not all) of the birds were local breeders. This field has been known as one of the best places on Eastern LI to see and hear the spectacular Indigo Bunting (always uncommon on ELI) and walks in recent years have noted numbers of the gorgeous males and a few females (harder to see since they are sitting on the nests while the males call and show off). This morning there was only one (or possibly two) singing males but at least most people got good looks.

Variations of the color blue seem to be the theme of these walks. One of the bluebird boxes is actually occupied be a pair of Eastern Bluebirds (easy to see as they perch on their nest box). Most of the other boxes are occupied by Tree Swallows, a native bird that is steely blue above and snow white below. Then there's always the Blue Jays. A Blue Grosbeak was recently reported from this area but we did not see it and I don't think we heard it either (a similar song, heard on two occasions, was -- to my ears -- that of the Warbling Vireo).

The area around the museum is a good place to see the Orchard Oriole as well as the Baltimore. And we heard (but did not see) at least two Warbling Vireos (along with a Red-eyed Vireo). Both the Orchard and the Warbling are comeback birds in our area, now increasing after a long period when they dropped out of sight. (I should add that there is a possibility that one or both of these Warbling Vireo songs was actually a Blue Grosbeak; the songs are quite similar and the song of the Grosbeak, only recently arrived on Long Island from the south, is not something I'm overly familiar with.)

Four nesting warblers: Yellow, Common Yellowthroat, Blue-winged Warbler and Prairie. Two raptors: Red-tailed Hawk and Osprey (which refuses to nest on the nice Osprey platform erected by SOFO for the express purpose of attracting nesting Osprey) Three flycatchers: E. Kingbird, E. Phoebe and Great Crested Flycatcher.
In addition to the Purple Martin colony, the many Tree Swallows and a few Barn Swallows, there was a Chimney Swift twittering high above (not a swallow but also feeding on flying insects).

Also seen and heard: Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Wren, and Mourning Dove. Did I forget anything? I don't think so but if I did perhaps someone reading this will jar my memory!

Eric Salzman